Mharakurwa moves up world rankings

The Zimbabwean, with 307 points from eight competitions, is on a tennis scholarship at the University of Johannesburg and is ranked third on the continent.
South Africa’s Sydwell Mathonsi is Africa’s top ranked player as he is on position 36 on the world rankings with 558 points from 17 International Tennis Federation recognised tournaments.
The continent’s second best player also comes from South Africa and is Evans Maripa who has 383 points amassed from 16 competitions. He is ranked 58.
Mharakurwa, who is eyeing a top 50 spot before June to enable him an automatic place for this year’s London 2012 Paralympic Games, has to play a number of international matches to pick up points.
The player, who two years ago was the continent’s best, has seen his efforts to qualify for the London Games being hampered by lack of funding.
“As it is, there are a number of competitions overseas that some players are using to earn points so that they qualify for the Games. As for me funding remains the biggest challenge for my campaign. Everything now is no longer in my hands and if it happens that I get to play three or four international tournaments, I am sure I will pick points.
“It is every athlete’s dream to represent their country at the Paralympics which are equivalent to Olympics. I want to win a medal for my country,” said Mharakurwa.
The player appealed for assistance from the corporate sector to enable him to participate at international competitions so that he could get points that might see him moving up the ladder.
According to information on the ITF calendar of events, there are two major tournaments – Sydney International Wheelchair Open from 20-24 January and the Australia Open that will be held on 25-28 January.
The first event that Mharakurwa is likely to play in the event that he fails to get sponsorship for international matches would be in April, the Harare Open, that will run from 13-17 April.
South African tournaments sponsored by the Airport Company of South Africa start after the Harare Open.
Mharakurwa said he would continue with his training programme with the hope of getting a sponsor.
“I just have to keep hoping for the best and I will have to keep fit so that even when I get a sponsor I’m ready,” said Mharakurwa.